9 Best Oberheim VST Plugins 2024

Oberheim is one of several manufacturers that dominated the synthesizer soundscape of the 70s, 80s, and beyond. Its sound? Classic and immediately identifiable.

To this day, Oberheim products (such as the OB-1, OB-X, and Matrix-6) are still very much sough-after, and often emulated by soft synth developers.

In this guide, we look at the best Oberheim VST plugins, so you know exactly which to add to your collection.

OB-Xa V by Arturia – Best Overall

It sounds just like the original, and it even comes loaded with new features. What is it? Arturia’s OB-Xa V. And there should be no mystery what it’s emulating (the Obeheim OB-Xa, of course)!

From Van Halen and Bon Jovi to Prince and Queen, this synth will take you in a time machine back to the 80s with its iconic tones.

OB-Xa V features stereo spread with left / right offsets on oscillator, filter, and LFO, modulation matrix, arpeggiator, up to 16-voice polyphony, voice detuning, effects, X-Mod modulation, four function generators, over 400 presets, individual voice panning, and more.

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Equator2 by ROLI – Best Premium Option

ROLI’s Equator2 may not be a standalone Oberheim VST plugin, but its sheer power and versatility make it an especially attractive option to synthesizer power users.  

Equator2 includes a library exceeding 6 GB with over 40 acoustic, electric, and electronic instruments. That includes classic synths (Oberheim OBXa, Roland VP-330, ARP Solina String Ensemble, etc.), baby grand, world instruments, classical instruments, and granular samples. You can even import your own samples!

Equator2 is a mind-blowing entry, featuring over 1,300 presets, hundreds of waveforms, six sources and four source types, 12 effects slots with 15 effects, multiple routing options, and the Free Motion Waves Soundpack, among many, many other amazing features.

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Synths 1 DX by Karanyi Sounds – Best Budget Option

From Sci-Fi pads to cinematic atmospheres, synthwave to ambient, Karanyi Sounds’ Synths 1 DX is the perfect tool for scoring all types of media, electronic music, chillout, and more.

Synths 1 DX comes with over 60 instrument presets. The samples were recorded key to key in 24-bit / 48 kHZ using analog gear and minimal post-processing.

The library consists of nine analog and PCM synths, including the Oberheim Matrix-6, Oberheim Matrix 1000, Moog Minitaur, Dave Smith OB-6, Moog Subsequent 37, Novation X Station, Roland Super JV, and Yamaha DX7.

Altogether, Synths 1 DX features over 1,600 samples, nine synth sources, over 60 Kontakt presets, pole modulation, envelope slots, 80s style FX, and Scoring EQ.

The included sounds are beautiful, mellow, warm, and laid back. But they are versatile enough to work for a variety of applications. Synths 1 DX is quite stunning overall.

Synths 1 DX requires the full version of Kontakt 5.8.1 or higher.

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Matrix 12 V by Arturia

The Oberheim Matrix-12 has been resurrected, and now it’s available as Matrix 12 V. The original’s 15 mode filter system, programmable nature, and modular flexibility were among some of its most notable features.

Besides taking the original synth and emulating it to perfection, Arturia added a few extras to take this classic synth over the top.

Matrix 12 V comes with two oscillators (triangle, sawtooth, variable-width pulse wave with PWM), single filter with 15 modes (four low pass, three high pass, two band pass, notch, phase shift, four combo filter modes), modulation matrix with 27 sources and 47 destinations.

You’ll also find multiple sources (five LFOs, four ramp, three track generators, velocity, pressure, keyboard follow, etc.), two insert effect slots with six effects, 12-voice polyphony, multitimbral operation, and more.

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SEM V by Arturia

With SEM V, Arturia set out to develop a premium software emulation of Oberheim’s iconic SEM (Synthesizer Expander Module).

What made it stand out from its peers was no doubt the continuous variable operation from low pass to high pass. Plus, multiple SEMs could be connected to create a four- or eight-voice polyphonic system, producing a lush wall of sound.

SEM V features all the original parameters from the Oberheim SEM, with two oscillators (sawtooth wave and variable-width pulse wave with PWM), sine wave LFO, 12 dB / oct multi-mode filter (high pass, low pass, band pass, notch), as well as two ADS envelope generators.

Arturia is rarely satisfied with meticulously recreating the original, though, and usually adds new features to extend the functionality of the synth they were inspired by.

In this case, SEM V comes with a new LFO, noise, sub oscillator, effects (overdrive, chorus, delay), an arpeggiator, and portamento.

SEM V also comes with up to 32 and eight voice multitimbrality, eight-voice programmer module, keyboard follow, modulation matrix, 20 new presets from Ian Boddy, 21 from Erik Norlander, 35 from Richard Courtel, 11 from Kevin Lamb, 14 from Drew Newmann, Forward Retrigg mode, Reassign mode, and sustain pedal.

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Sotto X by Sonokinetic

Sonokinetic’s Sotto X is an evolution of their original Sotto orchestral phrase library. This is essentially the analog synth “remix” of Sotto!

And for this entry, they picked some killer synths, like the Oberheim OB-8 and OBX-8, ROLAND Jupiter-8, Jupiter-6, SH-2, and Juno 60, KORG Polysix, Prologue, MS20, Moog One and Subsequent 37, ARP 2600 and Odyssey, Arturia MatrixBrute, Sequential Prophet 10, Prophet 6, and Prophet 5, as well as the Yamaha CS30.

Sotto X also features a purging system, randomization, three synth phrase categories inspired by Analog Strings, Analog Woodwinds, and Analog Brass, as well as Percussion 3 players.

Whether as a phrase library or as a virtual analog synth, Sotto X shines.

Sotto X either requires Kontakt Player or the full version of Kontakt 5.1 or higher.

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Polyscape Pro by Karanyi Sounds

Inspired by the 90s underground and 80s film scores, Karanyi Sounds’ Polyscape Pro is the ideal Kontakt instrument for creating textures, ambiences, and soundscapes inspired by classic, vintage synths.

Polyscape Pro features Analog Blur expression, 50 new artists presets, and four new organ sounds inspired by Oberheim PCM organs.

The library, though, comes with nine handcrafted patches derived from the Oberheim Matrix-6, Oberheim Matrix 1000, Oberheim OB32, Oberheim OB6, Sequential Prophet 5, Nord Lead 2, Prophet Rev2, and Moog Subsequent 37 synths.

Polyscape Pro also comes with 130 full-scale Kontakt presets, 40 synth modules with the developer’s Layer Designer Engine and 80+ parameters, 24 bit / 48 kHz sample rate, and 40 cinematic moving pads and soundscapes.

This Kontakt instrument was crafted from good stuff. No wonder, then, that it’s also made of good stuff. This entry should come in handy for scoring, composing, and songwriting alike. Check out what it can do in the video below.

Polyscape Pro requires the full version of Kontakt 5.8.1 or above.

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Eight Voice by Cherry Audio

The Eight Voice polyphonic synthesizer takes after the infamous Oberheim Eight Voice, quite possibly one of the rarest and most sought-after classic instruments out there.

The original unit came with eight independent dual-oscillator voice modules. These generally took some patience to program. The developer, Cherry Audio, developed a Voice Link control for Eight Voice that allows you to group voice module controls, which cuts down on time spent tweaking each setting.

Also onboard is a Focus button, which lets you zoom in on specific sections of the synthesizer for ease of tweaking. You’ll also find keyboard assign modes for mono / poly layering and zoning.

Thanks to award-winning synth designer Mark Barton’s contribution, the state-variable multi-mode filter is stunning.

Eight Voice also features a mini sequencer, and reverb and modulation delay.

Altogether, you get 330+ presets, mono and poly keyboard assignment modes, independent key range settings, layering and zoning options, Voice Linking, Focus buttons, two poly assign buses, additional LFO with six waveforms and tempo sync, eight-step mini sequencer, reverb and mod delay with tempo sync, and full MIDI control.

Producers, keyboardists, beatmakers, composers, and songwriters alike should find this a very satisfying plugin, especially since it sounds great, and it’s in a very affordable price range.

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Synths 2 Abyss by Karanyi Sounds

Synths 2 Abyss was created specifically with deep, droning bass sounds using both modern and vintage analog synthesizers.

This plugin utilizes four synth sources – the Oberheim Matrix 1000, Oberheim Matrix-6, Moog Minitaur, and Moog Subsequent 37. It comes with 190 presets in a variety of categories, and even 40 multis.

Altogether, you get 2,600 samples, 90 Kontakt patches, three to four octaves (in the low register), Eventide and Crusher X granular effects processors, two layers per patch, granular library, glitch library, scape library, and over 230 Kontakt presets.

As you might expect, Synths 2 Abyss is perfect for all things bass. Some sounds are more abstract than others, but there are plenty of more conventional sounds onboard too.

Synths 2 Abyss requires the full version of Kontakt 5.8.1 or above.

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What Should I Look For In An Oberheim VST Plugin?

Here are a few quick tips to help you find the right plugin fast:

• Listen to each. Take advantage of available sound clips and videos. Find the plugin(s) that sound best to you.
• Compare the features. Some offer more. Some offer less. Determine what you need in terms of parameters, effects, filters, presets, and so on.
• Keep an eye on your budget. Oberheim VST plugins costly roughly $40 to $250 depending on the solution. We advise against going into debt for any purchases. Spend within your budget or save up.

Top Oberheim VST Plugins, Final Thoughts

Oberheim VST plugins come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are standalone Oberheim emulations. Others come with Oberheim patches. Still others allow you to create amazing textures with layers of different synths.

No matter what you might be looking for, there’s a solution that should be right for you. Take your time and find the best VST plugin for your situation!